Clothes hanger container



Dec. 12, 1967 c. E. GlNGHER CLOTHES HANGER CONTAINER Filed Dec. 20, 1963 FIG? INVENTOR CARL E. GINGHER TTORN M A J United States Patent 3,357,544 CLGTHES HANGER CONTAINER Carl E. Gingher, 304-328 Depot St, Scranton, Pa.- 18509 Filed Dec. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 332,031 16 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) The present invention relates to the packaging of clothes hangers to facilitate display, storage, and transportation thereof, more particularly, to a container for one or a plurality of clothes hangers which can be readily folded from a blank to form a hanger and package unit.

Since purchases of clothes hangers generally involve more than a single hanger, it has long been desirable to devise a simple and inexpensive container or packaging unit for a number of clothes hangers. Such containers should be inexpensive to manufacture and simple in con struction so that they could be assembled into a package without the necessity for resorting to any fasteners. Such containers are also desirable as a vehicle for effectively displaying the hangers and to form a convenient package which the purchaser can easily carry. By packaging groups of clothes hangers into package units the transportation and storage thereof are greatly facilitated It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved container for clothes hangers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple yet effective container for the packaging of clothes hangers, either singly or in groups.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a clothes hanger and package unit which will facilitate the transportation, display and storage of clothes hangers.

The present invention discloses a blank which may be readily folded into a package containing a number of clothes hangers wherein detachable connecting means are provided on the blank. A modification of this blank is provided for the packagin" of individual clothes hangers.

The clothes hanger container essentially comprises a bottom from which are upstanding on the opposite edges thereof two triangularly shaped sides. The inclined edges of one of the sides has top members thereon which are folded over and detachably connected to the corresponding inclined edges of the other side. Top and end members are also provided for closing off the top and ends of the triangularly shaped package. The resulting triangular package completely encloses the quantity of clothes hanger containers therein.

In a modification, a wrapper or container is provided which is readily folded around individual clothes hangers so as to protect the hangers during transportation or storage and to provide space for advertising material. In the container for single hangers the two sides thereof are similarly detachably connected by inclined top members extending from-one of the sides.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in connection with the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of a container for several clothes hangers;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1, with one of the sides being open to illustrate the hangers contained therein;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank foldable into the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an overall perspective View of a plurality of the containers in FIGURE 1 as arranged on a shelf for display purposes;

FIGURE 5 is an overall perspective view of a single coat hanger package;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the hanger package of FIGURE 5 with one of the container sides being opened; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the blank which is foldable into the container illustrated in FIGURE 5.

With respect to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment and a modification of the present invention will be described in detail.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated at 1 a container for holding several clothes hangers such as 3, 6, 12 or 24. The entire container is formed from a single blank cut from plain or corrugated cardboard or a similar material and comprises an elongated rectangular bottom 2 with sides 3 and 4 being connected to the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom.

The sides 3 and 4 are similar and are substantially in the shape of an isosceles triangle having a base 5 which is connected to the bottom 2 and inclined top edges 6 and 7 which slope upwardly toward the midpoint of the respective side. The apex of the side is flat and defines a top edge 8 which is parallel to the bottom 2. Each side has ends 9 which are perpendicular with respect to the bottom 2 and extend from the bottom 2 to the lowermost point of the inclined top edges.

. The side 3 is further provided with inclined top members 16 and 11 which are foldably connected to the inclined top edges 6 and 7 respectively. These top members are essentially rectangular with one of the longer edges being connected to the inclined top edge and th other longer edge being provided with flaps 12 and 13. Slots 14- and 15 are provided at the connection between the flaps 12 and 13 and the inclined top members 10 and 11.

The lower ends of the inclined top members 10 and 11 are provided with end members 16 each of which has two flaps 17 and 18. The flap 18 is further provided with a foldable extension 19 along one edge thereof.

The inclined top edges of the other side 4 are provided with tabs 20 and 21 which are of such size and shape so as to be insertable into the slots 14 and 15.

The top edge 8 of the side 3 is provided with a top member 22 which has extending therefrom a tab 23.

The top edge 8 of the side 4 is provided with a similarly shaped top member 24 in which is formed a slot 25 at the connection between the top member 4 and the top edge 8.

In assembling the container, a plurality of hangers such as 26 illustrated in FIGURE 2, are positioned within the container with a crossbar 27 of the hanger being set upon the bottom 2, and the hook 28 upstanding from the midpoint of the shoulder bar 29 being positioned adacent the top edges of the sides 3 and 4.

The end member flaps 17 and 18 and extension 19 are tucked into the container in front of, beneath, and behind, respectively, the extreme ends of the hangers. The inclined top members 10 and 11 folded over the hanger shoulder bar. The tabs 21 are then inserted into the slots 14 and 15 and top member tab 23 inserted into the top member slot 25.

The assembled container can be sealed by a seal across the top members whose color indicates the color of the hangers contained within the package.

The outer faces of the sides 3 and 4 may be provided with printed material such as advertising or descriptive information. The printed material on one side is upside down with respect to the printed material on the other side so that when a plurality of the containers are assembled for display purposes, as shown in FIGURE 4, the printed material on all of the containers will appear right side up to the viewer. By being able to arrange the hanger containers as shown in FIGURE 4, a minimum of space is required for displaying a maximum number of hangers upon a display surface.

To facilitate carrying of the hanger package by a purchaser, a punched portion 30 is formed in one of the sides, such as 4, which when folded inwardly will provide a hand hold for the fingers of the carrier. The hand hole punch portion-30 is formed in that side of the container upon which the printed material can be read when the top of the container is pointed downwardly as would be the case when a person is carrying the container by the hand hold.

Circular punch portions 31 are also provided adjacent the top edges of both sides 3 and 4 to enable the hanger package to be supported upon a rod or a pin projecting from a substantially vertical surface.

While the container illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 contains 3 clothes hangers, it can be understood that the same container construction can be employed for 6, 12 or any other number of clothes hangers merely by proportionately increasing the dimensions of the top and end members.

Proceeding next to FIGURE 5, there is illustrated a modified container 32 which is adapted to be wrapped around a single clothes hanger 33 to form a hanger packaging unit and is formed of cardboard or a similar material. The container 32 is folded from the blank 34 illustrated in FIGURE 7, and comprises an elongated rectangular bottom 35 from the opposite longitudinal edges of which are connected sides 36 and 37.

The top of side 36 is provided with inclined top edges 38 and 39 which slope upwardly toward the center of the container and are separated by a top edge 40 which is parallel to the bottom 35 but below the inclined edges 38 and 39. Inclined top edges 38 and 39 are respectively provided with inclined top members 41 and 42 from which extend flaps 43 and 44. The flaps are each provided with straight shoulders 45 on the inner edges thereof and sloping shoulders 46 on the outer edges thereof. There are cuts or notches -47 in each of the outer shoulders 46.

The top edge 40 is provided with a top member 48 whose width is slightly greater than the thickness of the hanger 33. A flap 49 extends from the top member and there is a slot 50 provided at intersection of the flap 49 with the top member 48.

The outer portions of the inclined top edges 38 and 39, as indicated at 51, are somewhat lower than the portions of the inclined top edges from which the top members extend. There are cuts or notches 52 in the lower portions 51, as may be seen in FIGURE 7.

The side 37 is provided with short inclined top edges 53 and 54 which are similar to and correspond to the inclined lower portions 51. Interconnecting the inclined top edges 53 and 54 is a top edge 55 which is parallel to the bottom 35 and is at the same height as the top edge 40 of the side 36. A tab 56 is provided on the top edge 55.

This container 32 is particularly adapted for clothes hangers wherein the shoulder bar 57 and cross bar 58 are formed of metal and have an inverted U-section. With such clothes hangers the container can be readily snapped into position to be securely held on the hanger and to protect it from damage during handling.

In this individual hanger package, as may be seen in FIGURES and 6, the under-side of the cross bar 58 is positioned on the bottom 35 and the sides 36 and 37 extend on both faces of the hangers. The inclined top members 41 and 42 are then folded over the shoulder bar, as may be seen in FIGURE 6, and the flaps 43 and 44 folded downwardly over the face of the hanger. The flap outer shoulders 46 are then snapped into the concave undersurface of the shoulder bar 57 as may also be seen in FIGURE 6.

The topmember 48 is then folded underneath the shoulder bar 57' and. the flap 49- is folded over the flap inner shoulders 45 so as to hold the top member flaps 43 and 44 in position.

The side 37 is then folded upwardly over the face of the hanger to cover the flaps 43, 44 and 49 and the tab 56 is inserted into the top member slot 50.

The inclined lower portions 51 on the side 36 and the inclined top edges 53 and 54 of the side. 37 are then snapped into the concave under-surface of the shoulder bar 57.

Printed material or advertising may then be placed on the outer faces of the container sides 36 and 37. When the individual hangers packaged, such as shown in FIG- URE 5, are hung upon a bar, it can be seen that the container will protect the hangers from contacting each other and thus marring the finish thereon.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention discloses a foldable container which can be assembled over either an individual or a plurality of clothes hangers to provide a compact clothes hanger package. The containers are quickly assembled over the hangers merely by interconnecting cooperating portions of several parts of the container. The containers provide :broad surfaces upon which advertising or other material may be printed. The container is folded from a single blank which can be suitably cut and scored by conventional stamping operations to facilitate folding.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to. comprehendsuch modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising a bottom, a pair of sides connected on opposite edges of said bottom with each side having two inclined edges and a top edge therebetween to form substantially a triangle, inclined top members connected to said inclined edges of one of said sides, flaps on said inclined top members and having slots therein, a top member on one of said side top edges and having a tab extending therefrom, a second top member from the other of said side top edges, there being a slot in said second top member receiving said top member tab, and tabs on the inclined edges of the other said side and insertable into said top member flap slots.

2. A folding container for clothes hangers and com prising a bottom, a pair of sides connected on opposite edges of said bottom with each side having two inclined edges with, a top edge therebetween to form substantially a triangle, inclined top members connected to said inclined edges of one of said sides, integral means on said inclined top members. engaging said: other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the inclined edges of the other of said sides, a top member on one of said side top edges, and means detachably connecting said top member with the corresponding top edge on the other of said sides.

3. A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising an elongated rectangular. bottom, a pair of sides having substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle with the bases thereof being connected to the longitudinal edges of said bottom, inclined top members connected to the inclined edges of one of said sides, integral means on said inclined topv members engaging said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the inclined edges of the other of said sides, a top member on one of said sides between the. inclined edges thereof, and

means on said top member detachably connecting said top member with the corresponding top edge on the other of said sides.

4..A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising an elongated rectangular bottom, a pair of sides having substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle with the bases thereof being connected to the longitudinal edges of said bottom, there being means in one. of said sides adjacent the base therefor for defining a slot forming a hand hold for the container, inclined top members connected to the inclined edges of one of said sides, integral means on said inclined top members engaging said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the inclined edges of the other of said sides, a top member on one of said sides between the inclined edges thereof, and means detachably connecting said top member with the corresponding top edge on the other of said sides.

5. A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising an elongated rectangular bottom, a pair of sides having substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle with the bases thereof being connected to the longitudinal edges of said bottom, inclined top members connected to the inclined edges of one of said sides, integral means on said inclined top members engaging'said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the inclined edges of the other of said sides, a top member on one of said sides between the inclined edges thereof, and means detachably connecting said top member with the corresponding top edge on the other of said sides, there being similar printed material on said sides with the printed material on one side being up-side-down with respect to the printed material on the other side.

6. A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising a bottom, a pair of sides connected on opposite edges of said bottom with each side having two inclined edges and a top edge therebetween to form substantially, a triangle, inclined top members connected to said inclined edges of one of said sides, flaps on said inclined top members and having slots therein, ends connected to the lower edges of said inclined top members and having extensions thereon foldable into the interior of the container, a top member on one of said side top edges and having a tab extending therefrom, a second top member from the other of said side top edges, there being a slot in said second top member receiving said top member tab, and tabs on the inclined edges of the other said side and insertable into said inclined top member flap slots.

7. A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising an elongated rectangular bottom, a pair of sides having substantially the shapes of an isosceles triangle with the bases thereof being connected to'the longitudinal edges of said bottom, inclined top members connected to the inclined edges of one of said sides, flaps on said inclined top members and having slots along their connection with said inclined top members, tabs on the inclined edges of the other of said sides and insertable into said top member flap slots to detachably connect said top members to said other side, end members connected to the lower ends of said inclined top members, flaps on the lower end of said end members and foldable into the interior of the container, a top member on one of said side top edges and having a tab extending therefrom, and a second top member on the other of said side top edges, there being a slot along the connection of said second top member with its side top edge to receive said top member tab.

8. A clothes hanger package comprising a bottom, a pair of sides connected on opposite edges of said bottom with each side having two inclined edges with a top edge therebetween to form substantially a triangle, inclined top members connected to said inclined edges of one of said sides, integral means on said inclined top members engaging said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the inclined edges of the other of said sides, a top member on one of said side top edges, means detachably connecting said top member with the corresponding top edge on the other of said sides, a clothes hanger having a shoulder bar and a cross bar interconnecting the ends thereof with a hook upstanding from the midpoint of said shoulder bar, said hanger being positioned in the package with its cross bar being on said bottom and its hook directed toward said top members.

9. A folding container for clothes hangers and comprising a bottom, a pair of sides connected to opposite edges of said bottom and having inclined top edges with a top edge between said inclined top edges, said inclined top edges sloping upwardly toward the midpoint of the respective sides with the uppermost points of said inclined top edges being higher than said top edge, inclined top members connected to the said inclined top edges of one of said sides, flaps connected to said inclined top members engaging said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the inclined edges of the other of said sides, a top member connected to said top edge of one of said sides, and means detachably connecting said top member to the other of said sides.

It). A clothes hanger and package unit comprising a hanger having a shoulder bar and a cross bar interconnecting the ends thereof with a hook upstanding from the midpoint of said shoulder bar, a package bottom positioned on the underside of said cross bar, a pair of sides connected to opposite edges of said bottom and positioned on opposite faces of said hanger, one of said sides having inclined top edges with a top edge parallel to said bottom being between said inclined top edges, inclined top members connected to said inclined top edges on said one of said sides and extending over the upper surface of said shoulder bar on either side of said hook, integral means on said inclined top members engaging said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to the other of said sides, and a top member connected to said top edge and detachably connected to the other of said sides underneath said shoulder bar and betwezn said inclined top members.

11. A clothes hanger and package unit comprising a hanger having a shoulder bar and a cross bar interconnecting the ends thereof with a hook upstanding from the midpoint of said shoulder bar, a package bottom positioned on the underside of said cross bar, a pair of sides connected to opposite edges of said bottom and positioned on both faces of said hanger, one of said sides having inclined top edges with a top edge parallel to said bottom being between said inclined top edges, said other side having a top edge at the same height as said one side top edge, inclined top members connected to said inclined top edges on said one of said sides and passing over the upper surface of said shoulder bar on either side of said hook, integral means on said inclined top members engaging said other side detachably connecting said inclined top members to said other side, a top member connected to one side top edge and having a flap extending therefrom with a slot in said flap, and a tab on the top edge of said other side and insertable into said top member flap slot detachably connecting said top member to said other side.

12. A clothes hanger and package unit comprising a hanger having a shoulder bar and a cross bar interconnecting the ends thereof with a hook upstanding from the midpoint of said shoulder bar, the under-surface of said shoulder bar being concave adjacent the outer ends thereof, a package bottom positioned on the underside of said cross bar, a pair of sides connected to opposite edges of said bottom and extending on both faces of said hanger, one of said sides having inclined top edges with a top edge parallel to said bottom being between said inclined top edges, said other side having a top edge at the same height as said one side top edge, the ends of said other side top edge being received in said concave under-surface portion of said shoulder bar, inclined top members connected to said inclined top edges on said one side and extending over the upper surface of said shoulder bar on either side of said hook, integral means on said inclined top members engaging said otherside detachably connecting said inclined top members to said other side, and a top member connected to said top edge of one of said sides and detachably connected to the other of said sides underneath said shoulder bar and between said inclined top members.

13. A clothes hanger and package unit comprising a hanger having a shoulder bar and a cross bar interconnecting the ends thereof with a hook upstanding from the midpoint of said shoulder bar, the undersurface of said shoulder bar being concave adjacent the outer ends thereof, a package bottom positioned on the underside of said cross bar, a pair of sides connected to opposite edges of said bottom and extending on both faces of said hanger, one of said sides having inclined top edges with a top edge parallel to said bottom being between said inclined top edges, said other side having a top edge at the same height as said one side top edge, the ends of said other side top edge being received in said concave under-surface portion of said shoulder bar, inclined top members connected to said inclined top edges on said one side and extending over the upper surface of said shoulder bar on either side of said hook, flaps extending from said inclined top members with each flap having a tab on the outer edge thereof for insertion into said concave undersurface portion and a shoulder on the inner edge thereof, a top member connected to said one side top edge and passing undersaid shoulder bar, said top member having a flap extending therefrom and passing over said flap shoulders, and means detachably connecting said top member flap with said other side.

14. A clothes hanger and package unit comprising a hanger having a shoulder bar and a cross bar interconmeeting the ends thereof with a hook upstanding from the midpoint of said shoulder bar, the under-surface of said shoulder bar being concave adjacent the outer ends thereof, a package bottom positioned on the underside of said cross bar, a pair of sides connected to opposite edges of said bottom and extending on both faces of said hanger, one of said sides having inclined top edges with a top edge parallel to said bottom between said inclined top edges, the other of said sides having a top edge at the same height as said one side top edge, the ends of said other side top edge being received in said concave said under-surface portion of the shoulder bar, inclined top members connected to the inner portions of said inclined top edges of said one side and extending over the upper surface of said shoulder bar on either side of said hook, the outertportions of said inclined top edges being positioned within said concave under-surface portion of said shoulder bar, flaps extending from said inclined top members with each flap having a tab on the outer edge thereof for insertion into saidconcave under-surfacepor- 8 tion, and a top member connected to said top edge of one of said sides and detachably connected to the other of said sides underneath said shoulder bar and between said inclined top members.

15. A blank foldable into a container for a clothes hanger and comprising an elongated rectangular bottom, a pair of sides extending from opposite edges of said bottom, one of said sides having inclined top edges sloping upwardly toward the center thereof with an edge parallel to said bottom between said inclined top edges, the other of said sides having a top edge at the same height as said one side top edge, inclined top members extending from said inclined top edges on said one of said sides, means on said inclined top members for detachably connecting the same to theother of said sides, a top member extending from said one side top edge and having means thereon for detachable connection to the other of said sides at a height lower than the uppermost portions of said inclined top members.

16-. A blank foldable into a container for clothes hangers and comprising an elongated rectangular bottom, a pair of sides connected on the longitudinal edges of said bottom with each side having substantially the shape of an isosceles triangle wherein the base is connected to the bottom and the inclined edges have a top edge therebetween substantially parallel to said bottom, inclined top members extending from the inclined edges of one of said sides, flaps on said inclined top member and having slots therein, end members extending from the lower edges of said inclined top members and having flaps thereon foldable into the interior of the package, a top member on one of said side top edges and having a tab thereon, a second top member on the other of said side top edges, there being a slot in said top member to receive said top member tab, and tabs on the inclined edges of the other of said sides and insertable into said inclined top memberflap slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,397 12/ 1 890 Mack 229-22 1,591,087 7/1926 Holliday 206 2,032,246 2/1936 Baum.

2,301,927 11/ 1942 Brogden 229-22 2,508,579 5/ 1950 McFall 229-40 3,110,428 11/1963 Cree.

LOUIS- G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING CONTAINER FOR CLOTHES HANGERS AND COMPRISING A BOTTOM, A PAIR OF SIDES CONNECTED ON OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM WITH EACH SIDE HAVING TWO INCLINDED EDGES AND A TOP EDGE THEREBETWEEN TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY A TRIANGLE, INCLINED TOP MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID INCLINED EDGES OF ONE OF SAID SIDES, FLAPS ON SAID INCLINED TOP MEMBERS AND HAVING SLOTS THEREIN, A TOP MEMBER ON ONE OF SAID SIDE TOP EDGES AND HAVING A TAB EXTENDING THEREFROM, A SECOND TOP MEMBER FROM THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE TOP EDGES, THERE BEING A SLOT IN SAID SECOND TOP MEMBER RECEIVING SAID TOP MEMBER TAB, AND TABS ON THE INCLINED EDGES OF THE OTHER SAID SIDE AND INSERTABLE INTO SAID TOP MEMBER FLAP SLOTS. 